Morning Devotional

Genesis 39: 7-9 Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, 7 and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!”

8 But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. 9 No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?”
      
There are so many wonderful teachings and reminders mixed within the stories of the Old Testament. The one above is an example. Joseph is reminding us that all sin is against God. How we respond to temptation is in large measure determined by how we view sin. If we regard sin as a minor, insignificant thing, then we will probably yield to the temptation. On the other hand, if we recognize it as a monstrous and wicked betrayal of God, our Master, the temptation loses its allure.

Joseph could have easily rationalized the sin away and gone along with the temptation. Instead he firmly resisted,knowing the human impact that would follow sin but his greatest concern was not to sin against God.

I believe we live in a time that minimizes and downplays the nature and impact of sin. We can justify most everything in someway and adopt an attitude "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas"  or this will not hurt anyone.This attitude, and  masking the impact of sin is that of Satan  but we must not forget that sin is ultimately against a holy God. Joseph reminds of this. I hope to see you this morning. God bless.

Gracious God, I thank you for the Word found within the Bible. The gentle and sometimes not so gentle reminders of how I am to live knowing you are my God. Everything I do is before You. Lord, may I resist temptation by not minimizing the impacts and who it is against. May I love you and my neighbor with all my heart, soul and strength. Father, forgive me when I do sin against You. Forgive me Lord when I look inward only and not the true blessings of family. I thank you Lord, for the community of believers I work with everyday. I thank you for the calling you laid upon my heart and Your people bringing me here to EOCC. Father, bless this community and our families as I reach out to you through Your Son Jesus, Amen.